Hydraulic pumping apparatus



Jan. 9,-, 1940. J. M. GURLEY ET 'AL 2,186,411

' HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1" Mill TIIIIIIIIIIII/I/IA :=i

IIIIIIIIIIIA Patented Jan. 9, 1940 PATENT OFF-{ICE HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS James M. Gurley and Arnold M. Gui-icy, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application April 22, 1938, Serial No. 203,650

5 Claims.

The invention relates to pumps for oil or water wells, particularly of the drilled well type, the pumps being of the type wherein the usual pump rod is eliminated and fluid pressure is employed for operating a floating piston located within a working barrel at the bottom of the well.

In common with the apparatus described in our co-pending application Serial No. 200,763, filed April '7, 1938, entitled Pumping system, of which the present application isa continuation in part, it is proposed to employ the same liquid which is being pumped as the lifting medium. Also according to our invention it is proposed to employ two vertical pipes extending into the well, through one of which pipes pressure fluid is applied to the piston while liquid is being elevated through the other. The liquid columns in these two pipes largely counter-balance one another thereby reducing the pressure necessary to bring the fluid to the surface. Valve means are provided for alternately directing the pres sure to one column or the other, and means are employed actuated by the back pressure which accumulates atrthe end-of each pumping stroke for automatically shifting the control valve. The

valve means and automatic control mechanismmay be the same as described in our co-pending application Serial No. 200,763, referred to above, to which reference may be had for further details of construction.

The principal feature of the invention resides in the use of a double acting piston having two oppositely extending hollow piston rods or pipes through which pressure fluid is supplied directly w check valves for fluid intake and outlet are enclosed within a casing instead of being exposed upon the outside of the cylinder as in other types, thus avoiding the hazard of these parts catching in the well casing. Also the present design enables the bottom hole unit to maintain a large pumping capacity while fitting into a small well casing.-

Another feature of invention comprises positive automatic mechanically operated means for diverting power from one fluid line to the other and changing the direction of travel of the piston.

'Still another feature is the reduction of the volume of water necessary to be handled with the surface pump, I

Another feature is the employment of a single floating piston which possesses the same capacity as two pistons on a connecting rod, while cutting the required length ofthe working'barrel in half, time making for economy in cost parts being shown in vertical section.

piston rod only is formed of telescoping parts.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral l0 denotes a well casing which is filled with fluid to be pumped suchas oil or'water to a level indicated at H. A bottom hole unit generally designated by the reference numeral I2 is lowered into the liquid in the well and, to

and from this .unit lead a pair of lines l3 and I4 alternately serving as power and fluid return lines between the surface and. the bottom hole unit. These pipes connect with a suitable control head l5 and control valve herein shown as of the type described in my application Serial No. 200.763, filed April 7, 1938. The valve-50 is adapted to place one or the other of said lines I! and I4 in communication with a source of power supplied through pipe l6 while the other line is cut ofl from the source of power but is connected to'an outlet pipe I! leading to a storage tank l8. From the storage tank It a portion of'the pumped liquid may be withdrawn .and returned toa surface pumping unit 5! through "a line IS. The valve 50 "may be controlled 'by suitable mechanism actuated by back pressure from one or the other of lines l3 and I4 when the pump plunger in the bottom of the well is at one or the other end of its stroke. Back pressure may be suppliedto the control mechanism through pressure lines 20 and 2| communicating with opposite ends of the control head l5 and leading to operating cylinders 22, 22

- which actuate a valve control 23 through suitable rod 4| to maintain a fluid tight fit.

clutch mechanism, all as described in detail in my aforesaid application Serial No. 200,763, said control wheel 23 serving to intermittently actuate the valve 50 through a control rod 24 connected to a valve arm 52.

As shown the bottom hole unit |2 comprises an outer casing 25 which is adapted to enclose various elements of the unit including the-working barrel, inlet and outlet pipes and check valves. This casing is provided with a top casting 26 with which fluid pipes l3 and I4 communicate. A bottom casting 2'! is also provided from which a pipe 28 of reduced cross-sectional area extends downwardly, said pipe being closed by means of a cap 29..

Within the outer casing 25 is a working barrel or cylinder 30 spaced from the casing by-any suitable means 3|. The cylinder contains a suitable fiuid operated piston 40. A bottom inlet 32 is provided leading through outer casing 25 and workingbarrel 30 through which the liquid to be pumped is drawn into the barrel on the up stroke of the plunger 40. This inlet is preferably provided with a suitable check valve 33 shown as opening upwardly into a working bare rel. 'An upper inlet pipe 34 similar to the pipe 32 is also provided having a check valve 35 shown as opening downwardly and serving to admit liquid on the down stroke of the piston.

A lower outlet 36 for pumped liquid leads from the interior of the working barrel to the casing 30 and thence to the pipe i3, said outlet pipe being provided with an outwardly opening check valve 31. pumped leads from the top of the working barrel .to the pipe l4 said outlet pipe being provided with an upwardly opening check valve 39. It will be noted that all inlets and outlets are within the confines of the outer-casing.

Working within the cylinder or barrel 30 is the piston 40 shown as provided with suitable sealing rings or leather cups. A slidable power line 4| or hollow piston rod 4| leads from the top of the piston upwardly into a branch pipe 32 which communicates with the pipe l4. Fluid may be supplied through pipe 42 and sliding power line 4| to the top' of the piston. Suitable packing 43 is provided around the slidable piston A similar hollow pipe 44 adapted to serve as a power line extends from the lower surface of the piston downwardly through suitable packing 45 into the pipe 28.

Stop 46 is provided above the piston to limit .its upward movement and a similar stop 41 is provided below the piston to limit the downward movement.

Uperaiion In operation liquid under pressure is supplied by means of the surface pump 5| which draws its supply from the storage tank I8 andforces such liquid under pressure through the pipe I B and control valve 53 downwardly through either pipe l3 or M to the bottom hole unit I2, de-

pending onthe position'of the control valve, the

4 other pipe serving as a fluid gain return line.

An'upper outlet 38 for liquid being 7 line |3.

28 filling the same.' Pressure is transmitted upwardly through the slidable pipe line 44 to the underside of the piston causing the same to move upwardly and forcing any fluid contained in the upper portion of the cylinder 30 ahead of the piston and-out through check valve 39 into return line H thus raising the liquid in this pipe and forcing the surplus through the by-pass in control valve 50 and through pipe line ll to the storage tank It. During the upward movement of the piston liquid from the well is drawn into the cylinder 25 from below the piston through inlet 32 and check valve 33.

When the piston head 40 at the end of its up- 4 ward stroke engages the stop 46 back pressure will be built up in the line l3, which pressure is transmitted through branch pipe 20 to the automatic valve control me hanism thereby shifting the control valve 50 so that the pressure fluid is now forced down pipe l4 closing the check valve 39. The pressure fluid then flows through branch pipe 42 and sliding power line 4| to the top of the piston which is thus caused to move downwardly forcing liquid from the lower portion of the cylinder 30 through the check valve 31 and outlet pipe 36. This fluid forces the liquid in the casing 25 and pipe line |3 upwardly, the surplus flowing through the by-pass in the valve 50 and through the outlet pipe H to the storage'tank i8. During the downward movement of the piston liquid is drawn into the upper portion of the cylinder from the well through inlet pipe 33 and check valve 35.

At the end of the downward stroke the piston 40 engages the stop 4'! whereupon back pressure is built up in line M which is transmitted through branchpipe line 2| to the valve control mechanism which thereupon actuates the control valve and shifts the pressure fluid once more to the The piston is now again"- ready for its upward stroke. This alternate utilization of the pipes l3 and I4 as pressure and return lines with the resultant reciprocation of the piston 40 continues as long as pressure fluid is supplied from the surface pump 5|.

The invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration but it will be appar cut that many modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, power lines 4| and 44 may be made of a telescoping nature which would permit of the maintaining of the same length of stroke of the piston 40 while shortening the overall length of the bottom hole unit. If desired only the pipe 44 may be made to telescope. In such event the packing gland 45 could be eliminated and also the extension pipe 28.

- Pipe line 4| would not necessarily telescope since it does not add to the length of the unit.

Ihus in the modifications set forth in Figs. 3

and a the lower power line is shown as made up of a plurality of telescoping elements 44a, 44b

and 44c, thereby eliminating the necessity for the chamber 28 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.- In Fig. 3 the upper power line is also shown as made up of telescoping parts 4|a, 4|b and 410. In Fig. 4 only the lower power line ismade up of telescopingparts, the upper power line 4| being the same as shown in Fig. 2.

We claim:

1. In a deep well phmp of the character described, a pump cylinder adapted to be submerged within the fluid to be pumped, a solid double act ing piston within said cylinder, said piston having a pair of oppositely extending hollow conductor the piston, stops limiting the movement of the pipes through which pressure fluid for actuating the piston is adapted to be alternately supplied directly to the piston, said conductor pipes working through packing glands at opposite ends of the cylinder.

2. In a deep well pump of the character described, a pump cylinder adapted to be submerged within the fluid to be pumped, a solid double acting piston within said cylinder, said piston having a, pair of oppositely extending open ended hollow piston rods through which pressure fluid for actuating the piston is adapted to be alternately supplied directly to the piston, said piston rods working through packing glands at opposite ends of the cylinder, and inlet and outlet pipes for liquid being pumped communicating with the interior of the cylinder both above and below the piston, stops limiting the movement of the piston in eachdirection, and means for automatically reversing the supply of pressure fluid at the end of each pistonstroke.

3. In a deep well pump of the character described, a pump cylinder adapted to be submerged within the fluid to be pumped, a solid double acting piston said' cylinder, said piston having a pair of oppositely extending open ended hollow piston rods through which pressure fluid for'actuating the piston is adapted to be alternately supplied directly to the piston, said piston rods working through packing glands at opposite ends of the cylinder, and inlet and outlet pipes for liquid being pumped communicating with the interior of the cylinder both above and below piston in each direction, and means for automatically reversing the supply of pressure fluid at the end of each piston stroke, and a casing surrounding the piston and cylinder and completely enclosing all connections so that a smooth surface is presented.

4. In a deep well pump of the character described, a pump cylinder adapted to be submerged within the fluid to be pumped, a solid double acting piston within said cylinder, said piston having a pair of oppositely extending open ended hollow piston rods through which pressure fluid for actuating the piston is adapted to be alter nately supplied directly to the piston, said piston rods working through packing glands at opposite ends of the cylinder, at least one of said hollow piston rods being formed of telescoping parts.

5. In a deep well pump of the character dc.-

scri bed, a pump cylinder adapted to be submerged within the fluid to be pumped, a solid double acting piston within said cylinder, said piston having a pair of oppositely extending open ended hollow piston rods through which pressure fluid for actuating the piston is adapted to be alternately supplied directly to the piston, said piston rods working through packing glands at opposite ends of the cylinder, both of said hollow piston rods being formed of telescoping parts.

JAMES M. GURLEY. ARNOLD M. GURLEY. 

